title: The effects of vagal nerve stimulation in focal cerebral ischemia and reperfusion model.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study aimed to investigate the effects of VNS in transient middle cerebral artery occlusion and reperfusion (MCAO/R) rat model of ischemia based on behavioral, morphological, and molecular approaches.
  
  
  METHODS
  Wistar albino rats were divided into 3 groups: ischemia-reperfusion (I/R), I/R+VNS, and sham (for I/R). Each group was further divided into two subgroups for the assessment of neurological deficits and infarct area, or biochemical parameters related to oxidative stress.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The infarct area and neurological scores were significantly lower in I/R+VNS group compared with the I/R group. MDA levels were significantly higher in I/R group compared to control and I/R+VNS groups in the cortical and subcortical specimens. There were also betweengroup differences in terms of GSH levels. GSH levels were higher in sham group compared with and I/R and I/R+VNS groups in cortical specimens whereas these levels for lower in I/R group compared to control and I/R+VNS groups in the subcortical specimens. SOD activity was higher in control group compared to I/R and I/R+VNS groups both in the cortical and subcortical specimens. There was no difference between I/R and I/R+VNS groups in neither cortical nor subcortical specimens.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The neuroprotective and antioxidant properties of VNS suggest its efficacy as a potential anti-ischemic treatment.
authors.affiliation: Yildirim Beyazit University, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Physiology, Ankara, Turkey.
authors.forename: Fatih
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Ekici
authors.forename: Ayse
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Karson
authors.forename: Meltem Ozden
authors.initials: MO
authors.lastname: Dillioglugil
authors.forename: Gonul
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Gurol
authors.forename: Hale Maral
authors.initials: HM
authors.lastname: Kir
authors.forename: Nurbay
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Ates
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001522:Behavior, Animal / Q000502:physiology; D002545:Brain Ischemia / Q000628:therapy*; D002544:Cerebral Infarction / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy; D004396:Coloring Agents; D004567:Electrodes, Implanted; D005978:Glutathione / Q000378:metabolism; D020244:Infarction, Middle Cerebral Artery / Q000628:therapy; D008297:Male; D008315:Malondialdehyde / Q000378:metabolism; D018384:Oxidative Stress / Q000502:physiology; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D015427:Reperfusion Injury / Q000628:therapy*; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase / Q000378:metabolism; D013778:Tetrazolium Salts; D055536:Vagus Nerve Stimulation
chemical_list: D004396:Coloring Agents; D013778:Tetrazolium Salts; D008315:Malondialdehyde; C009591:triphenyltetrazolium; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase; D005978:Glutathione